Video conferencing lifts travel restrictions for top London legal firm

RTS were approached by a leading London legal firm to assist with a litigation trial which required video conferencing facilities including setting up a remote site outside the UK to allow a person to participate remotely due to travel restrictions placed on the individual.

An experienced RTS team identified a suitable venue in the remote location where they installed a temporary video conference suite, complete with recording facilities, allowing video playback of the video conference sessions, should they be required in court in London.

Hardware included a Polycom HDX8000 video codec, solid state video recording and playback, external sound re-enforcement, external microphones and additional lighting to ensure the remote location could be seen and heard clearly by the London court room.

The trial lasted several weeks and without the technology, it is unlikely that the litigation could have proceeded at all.

Legal experience

RTS are experienced in supplying technical support for criminal and civil cases, inquests and public inquiries for over a decade and have been responsible for installing and operating equipment in some of the largest cases in the UK, most recently The Leveson Inquiry, where RTS designed, installed and operated all the Inquiry audio-visual equipment including providing television feeds to broadcasters and web streaming proceedings live on the Internet.

RTS have assisted many trials where travel restrictions have been an issue, including as far back as 2005 for the Roman Polanski v Vanity Fair libel trial where Mr Polanski testified via video-link from Paris due to the film director fearing arrest if travelling to the UK.

The evolving use of technology in criminal and civil law will increase over the coming years, which will assist in cutting costs, reducing court time, and help to make the whole judicial process more efficient.